WORKERS at the Shongtong Karcham Hydropower Project, under the banner of CITU, have been on strike for the past four months but the government and the local administration remain insensitive to their just and genuine demands. The workers are demanding that labour laws be implemented. But the administration and the government are on the side of the contractors who are not paying minimum wages, overtime and tunnel allowances to the workers and not depositing provident fund contribution. A worker is losing out Rs 5,000-7,000 per month on account of denial of their rights by the contractors. The main contractor and sub-contractors are earning huge money at the cost of workers. The state government is also suffering huge financial losses due to corruption and closure of work at the project site. The Himachal Pradesh High Court passed an order, asking the contractor to negotiate with the striking workers. During negotiations, the company made a plea that it would not take back nearly 20 workers leading the protest against whom FIRs have been lodged during the strike. The company ignored the fact that FIRs have also been lodged against workers affiliated to INTUC and the contractors. About 120 workers have illegally been terminated by the company management. CITU leaders, led by Rakesh Singha and Kashmir Singh Thakur, started a fast unto death in Shimla town on July 2, against the arbitrary stand of the contractor and in support of the striking workers. On the sixth day, the health conditions of three fasting comrades deteriorated and they were admitted to the hospital. On the seventh day, police forcibly arrested Rakesh Singha and Sanju Negi from the venue of the strike. Instead of admitting them to a hospital, they were taken to Sadhupul which falls in Solan district. The condition of Singha further deteriorated there and he became unconscious. After intervention, he was admitted to IGMC Hospital in Shimla in an unconscious state. Such an inhuman and illegal action was taken by police at the behest of the Congress-led state government. The fast unto death has been continuing with six comrades in Shimla. CITU’s Shimla district unit protested against this illegal and inhuman act of police. Protest rally was organised on Mall Road of Shimla. As many as 140 workers were arrested during the protest. An FIR has been filed against erring police officials. The CPI(M) also gave a call of protest and burning of effigy of Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh. Protest meets were successfully held across the state on July 11. The Party has demanded the resignation of the chief minister. Law and order in the state has break down. There is total anarchy in the state. And the government and administration are helping the goons and corrupt contractors. It is taking all steps to help these goons and mafias. At the project site in Shongtong prohibitory orders under CrPC Section 144 were imposed to prevent workers from staging protest. But the workers staged protest 30 kms away from the project site. The CPI(M) and the CITU are determined to fight the authoritarian and anti-people government.